Cotton feeding, separating, and cleaning machine



0. MITCHELL Filed May 10, 1930 AIM is r e a W TE. 2 N m 0 W w M Q 5 4 L n v w COTTON FEEDING, SEPARATING, AND CLEANING MACHINE April 28, 1931.

Patented Apr. 28, 1931 STATES PATENT oFFicE ORVILLE MITCHELL, DALLAS, TEXAS Application filed May 10, 1930. Serial No.. 451,290.

This invention has for its general object to improve cotton feeding separating and.

cleaning machines of the type employing multipleseparating units and as illustrated,

5 for example, in Patent No. 1,73%,592, granted to John E. Mitchell, November 5, 1929.

In the type of machine referred to, each saw cylinder of a separating unit has an associated hull board for directing the mixed 9 cotton, hulls and trash against the surface of its saw cylinder, and the lower end of which, as usual, defines the size of an opening past the saw cylinder for the escape of hulls and trash. The impossibility of adjusting the size of this opening to? secure ideal results has always been recognized. That is to say, if the opening is made small enough to prevent the escape of cotton past the saw cylinder, the free discharge of hulls will be retarded, andthe machine will ultimately choke up. On the other hand, if said opening is made large enough to permit the free discharge of hulls and. trash, it inevitably results that a fairly large proportion of cotton will escape with the hulls and trash.

' It is a comparatively easy matter to recover the cotton escaping past the first saw cylinder of a multiple cylinder machine, as, for example, by positioning a reclaiming 3o saw cylinder and cooperating brushes below the passage between the lowerend of the hull board and the saw cylinder, and which operates to engage and return the escaping cotton to the saw cylinder. Such an arrangement, in connection with a single saw cylinder machine, is shown in said Mitchells prior Patent No. 1,613,242, dated January 4, 1927.

In the case of the saw cylinder of the separating units if more than two are employed, the case is otherwise, as it has not been heretofore deemed feasible to recover the escaping cotton, owing to the multiplicity of mechanism that would be required, the added expense that would be involved and the difiiculty of constructing such a machine within the limit of size permitting it to be installed on an ordinary gin stand. As a matter of fact, in the machine of Pat second separating unit, or of succeeding ent No. 1,734,592 referred to, no attempt is made to recover the cotton escaping past any of the saw cylinders.

In this type of machine the waste of cotton is prevented, as far as possible, by gradually reducing the size of the hull discharge opening in each succeeding separating unit.

According to the present invention, I dispense with the use of a hull board in connection with the second saw cylinder of the two cotton separating units employed, and provide for the free discharge of mixed cotton, hulls and trash from the second separating unit and its return past the saw cylinder of the first separating unit and finally to a reclaiming saw cylinder cooperating with said latter saw cylinder.

A reclaiming saw cylinder in cooperation with brushes, as described in Patent No. 1,613,242 referred to, enables a very close separation between cotton and hulls to be made, because the hulls are continuously discharged directly from the machine and the cotton is continuously removed from the reclaiming saw cylinder by the saw cylinder with which it cooperates.

By the above arrangement I provide a continuous path of treatment for the cotton and utilize both sides of the main saw cylinder, or that of the first separating unit, in separating cotton from the mixed cotton, hulls and trash fed into the machine.

' Furthermore by dispensing with a hull board for the second saw cylinder and so arranging the path of movement of the cotton through the machine that the main saw cylinder and its cooperating reclaiming saw cylinder function simultaneously to remove cotton from the main bulk of mixed cotton,

hulls and trash fed into the machine and from mixed cotton, hulls and trash freely escaping past the saw cylinder of the second separating unit, I am enabled to produce a machine very compact in structure, and relatively small in size as compared with machines of the multiple type as here tofore designed, and the saving in space thus effected makes it possible to combine in the machine a cleaning unitv which receives, cleans, and delivers from the mais the board and said main saw subject matter of a separate application- Ser. No. 451,273, filed May 10, 1930, and invention of the said John E. Mitchell. It is sufficient to say at this point that it involves a doifer common to the final cotton separating unit and the cotton cleaning mechanism, and which operates to remove the cotton from the saw cylinder of said separating unit, deliver it to the cleaning mechanism, and then to receive the cleaned cotton from the latter mechanism and discharge the same from the machine.

It should be stated further, that by increasing the efiective operating surface of the saw cylinder of the first separating unit,

by causing it to act at opposite sides, respectively, on two streams of mixed cotton, hulls and trash, I can use a much smaller saw cylinder in the second separating unit, and this fact, combined with the absence of a hull board and the arrangement for a continuous path of treatment of the cotton as above described, makes it possible to provide a combined cotton feeding, separating and cleaning machine of the multiple :type of such relatively small size that it may be installed on an ordinary gin stand. y

The preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by a main saw cylinder having a hull board associated therewith; a reclaiming saw cylinder mounted below the opening between the lower end of said hull cylinder and in working relation to the surface of the latter; a kicker roller and a dofling cylinder co-operating with the main saw cylinder; a second saw cylinder, having a kicker roller and a doffing cylinder co'operating therewith, positioned to receive the product removed from the main saw cylinder and located at a distance from the latter to provide a free, open space for the discharge of mixed cotton, hulls and trash between the two saw cylinders; means for directing the mixed cotton, hulls and trash so discharged past the main saw cylinder andin engageable proximity to the surface thereof; and, finally, by means for directing the remaining product on to the reclaiming saw cylinder, and providing for the escape of hulls and trash past the same.

. therewith.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the casing of the machine,

inythe side walls of which are suitably journaled the shafts of the various rotating members heremafter described. As the manner of mounting such rotatable memhers is well known, and as the driving mechanism for rotatingthe same is of conventional type, I have simply shown in section the shafts of the various rotating members and indicated by arrows the directions of their rotation.

The casing 1 is provided with a feed opening 2 in its upper end, and mounted below this opening are feed rollers 3. Below the latter is a breaker cylinder 4 which rotates in proximity to a screen 5 mounted in the rear of the casing. Located below the screen 5 is a hull board 6, the lower end of which defines the size of an opening 7 past a main saw cylinder 8. lWounted below the saw cylinder 8, and in working relation with the surface thereof, is a small reclaiming saw cylinder 9. At its lower end the hull board 6 is bent outwardly at right angles to itself, as indicated at 10, and then is bent again inwardly at right angles to provide a wall 11, in the lower end of which is mounted a bar 12 containing. a row of brushes 13. The wall 11 and brushes 13 serve to confine the prod uct passing through the opening 7 and to direct it on to the surface of the reclaiming saw cylinder 9. A second row of brushes 14 is suitably mounted, as indicated at 15, on the opposite side of the reclaiming saw cylinder to that of brushes 18. The reclaiming saw cylinder 9 and its brushes function, inconnection with saw cylinder 8, in a manner fully described in the patent to Mitchell N 0. 1,613,242 above referred to, and as will be briefly indicated hereinafter. The main saw cylinder 8 is of relatively large size and has cooperating therewith a kicker roller 16 and a doffing cylinder 17. The main saw cylinder 8 and the parts associated there with constitute the first of two separating units employed in carrying out the purposes of this invention. The second separating unit comprises a saw cylinder 18, which may be of, much smaller diameter than the main saw cylinder 8, and has cooperating there with a kicker roller 19 and a dofiing cylinder 20. The saw cylinder 18 is so positioned that the product removed from the main saw cylinder 8 by the dofiing cylinder 17 will be thrown by the latter directly onto its surface. It is further positioned at such distance from the main saw cylinder 8 as to downwardly inclined to provide a hull board 24 for the reclaiming saw cylinder 9, and

I the lower end of which hull board defines the it on its under side.

size of an opening 25 past the reclaiming saw cylinder.

The cleaning mechanism includes a cleaning cylinder 26 mounted to rotate in proximity to a screen 27 which partly surrounds The parts are so positioned that cotton is removed from the saw cylinder 18 by the dofling cylinder 20, which delivers same to the cleaning cylinder 26 from its upper side, and then receives the cleaned cotton from the machine through an outlet 28. The trash passing through screen 27 falls in to a conveyor 29, whence it is discharged from the machine. The operation is as follows:

The raw product, consisting of mixed cotton, hulls and trash fed into the machine by feed rollers 3 is acted upon by the breaker cylinder 4 and carried thereby over the screen 5, through which some of the trash falls. The product passes thence on to the hull board 6 down which it is propelled by the breaker cylinder into engagement with the surface of the main saw cylinder 8. The main body of cotton will be engaged by the teeth of this saw cylinder and carried under kicker roller 16 which will knock back part of the hulls and trash mixed with the cotton. The dofling cylinder 17 removes from saw cylinder 8 the cotton carried beneath kicker roller 16 and discharges it on to the surface of the second saw cylinder 18.

The hulls and trash knocked back by kicker roller 16, and small locks of cotton not engaged by the teeth of saw cylinder 8, fall through the opening 7 provided by hull board 6 and on to the surface of reclaiming saw cylinder 9. As this saw cylinder passes under the brushes 13, the latter offer "a sufficient resistance to cause the teeth of the. saws to engage the small lock cotton while the hulls and trash are readily and rapidly thrown off. In passing over brushes 1% the locks of cotton are caused to be engaged still more strongly by the teeth of the saw cylinder, and prevented from being thrown off from the surface of the saw cylinder by centrifugal action. Cotton is removed from the reclaiming saw cylinder by the main saw cylinder 8, which has a surface speedof rotation greaterthan that of the reclaiming saw cylinder. E

The kicker roller 19 will knock back hulls and trash from the cotton carried under it by saw cylinder 18 and such hulls and trash, together with small lock cotton not engaged by saw cylinder 18, will be discharged freely through opening 21 and fall on to the deflecting board 22. The latter causes this mixed productto be carried past the saw cylinder in engageable proximity thereto,

and especially at the horizontal portion '23 of the deflecting board, so that the teeth of saw cylinder 8 will engage and remove a large portion 7 ofthe locks of cotton in this product. The remainder of the product then passes over hull board 24 and the reclaiming saw cylinder 9 engages and removes practically all of the remaining cotton and carries it under the saw cylinder 8, by whlch it is removed. The'hulls' and trash now almost entirely free of cotton particles, discharges through the opening 25, falls on to an inclined slide board 30, and

is discharged out of the machine.

From the above operation it will be seen that both the mainsaw cylinder 8 and the reclaiming saw cylinder 9 are caused to do double duty, both reclaiming cotton from the other side of the reclaiming saw cylinder. c

I wish it understood that the invention is not to be'limited to theexact construction and arrangement of parts shown and 'de scribed, except as may be required certain of the claims following.

I claim:

1. Ina cotton feeding, separating and cleaning machine, incombination with feeding means,'a cotton separating unit including a main saw cylinder, a second cotton separating unit comprising a saw cylinder positioned to receive the product from the first separating unit, the two units being so positioned as to afford a space between them for the free discharge of mixed cotton, hulls and trash rejected by the second cotton separating unlit, means for directing the product fed into the machine and said discharged product, respectively, in two different streams along opposite sides of said main saw cylinder and toward a common point,'and a reclaiming saw cylinder. located at such point in working proximity to the main saw cylinder and in the path of move ment of each stream, and operating to engage and remove cotton simultaneously from both streams and return the same to the main saw cylinder.

2. In a cotton feeding, separating and cleaning machine, a cotton separating unit with said saw cylinder, a second cotton separating unit comprising a saw cylinder having hull rejecting and cotton removing meanscooperating therewith and positioned to receive the product removed from the main saw cylinder, and at such distance from the latter as to permit the free discharge between the two cylinders of mixed cotton, hulls, and trash escaping from said second separating unit, means for directing the raw product and the product discharged between the two saw cylinders, respectively, in two different streams past opposite sides of the main saw cylinder and toward a common point, and a reclaiming saw cylinder located at the point of convergence of said streams in working relation to said main saw cylinder and adapted to engage cotton in each stream and return it to the main saw cylinder.

3. In a cotton feeding, separating and cleaning machine,-in combination with a main saw cylinder, 'means for feeding the raw product. thereto, a second saw. cylinder, hull rejecting and cotton removing means cooperating with each of said saw cylinders, said second saw cylinder being positioned 'to receive the product removed from the main saw cylinder and being separated from the latter a sufficient distance to permit the free escape of cotton and hulls between the two, a reclaiming saw cylinder positioned to receive and return to the main saw cylinder cotton escaping past the same, and means for directing the mixed cotton, hulls and trash falling between the two saw cylinders to said reclaiming saw cylinder, so that the cotton therein may be engaged by the latter and delivered to said main vsaw cylinder.

4. Ina cotton feeding, separating and cleaning machine, in combination with a main saw cylinder, means for feeding the raw product thereto, a second saw cylinder, hull rejecting and cotton removing means .cooperating with each of said saw cylincers, said second saw cylinder being positioned to receive the product removed from the main saw cylinder and being separatedfrom the latter a sufficient distance to permit the free escape of cotton and hulls between the two, a reclaiming saw cylinder positioned to receive and return to the main saw cylinder .cotton escaping past the same, and means for directing the mixed cotton, hulls and trash falling between the two saw cylinders past, and in engageable proximity to said main saw cylinder and then to said reclaiming saw cylinder.

5. In a cotton feeding, separating and cleaning machine, in combination with a main saw cylinder, means for feeding the raw product thereto at one side thereof, a

reclaiming saw cylinder positioned to receive and return to said main saw cylinder cotton escaping past the same, and cotton separating mechanism, including said mam saw cylinder, positioned to afiiord a contin uous pathof treatment for the cotton from the reclaiming saw cylinder at. one side thereof back to said reclaiming saw cylinder at the other side thereof, comprising hull rejecting and cotton removing means cooperating with said main saw cylinder, a second saw cylinder positioned at a distance from the main saw cylinder to permit the fall of mixed cotton, hulls and trash be tween the two, and adapted to receive the partially cleaned cotton removed from the main saw cylinder, hull rejecting and cotton removing means cooperating with said second saw cylinder, and means for directing the mixed cotton, hulls and trash falling through the space between the two saw cylinders past the main saw cylinder, on the opposite side thereof to which the raw product was fed, to the reclaiming saw cylinder.

6. In a cotton feeding, separating and cleaning machine, in combination with a. main saw cylinder, means for feeding the raw product thereto at one side thereof, a reclaiming saw cylinder positioned to receive and return to said main saw cylinder cotton escaping past the same, and cotton separating mechanism, including said main saw cylinder, positioned to afford a continuous path of treatment for the cotton from the reclaiming saw cylinder at one side thereof back to said reclaiming saw cylinder at the other side thereof, comprising hull rejecting and cotton removing means cooperating with said main sawrcylinder, a second saw cylinder positioned at a distance from the main saw cylinder to permit the fall of mixed cotton, hulls and trash between the two, and adapted to receive the partially cleaned cotton removed from the main saw cylinder, hull rejecting and cotton removing means cooperating with said sec-.

ond saw cylinder, and means for directing the mixed cotton, hulls and trash falling through the space between the two saw cylinders past and in engageable proximity to the main saw cylinder, on the opposite side thereof to which the raw product was fed,

to the reclaiming saw cylinder.

7. In a cotton feeding, separating and cleaning machine, in combination with amainsaw cylinder and means for feeding the raw product thereto at one side thereof, a hull board, the lower end of which defines the size of a passage past such side of the saw cylinder for the escape of hulls, trash and small lock cotton, a reclaiming saw cylinder mounted in working proximity to the main saw cylinder below said passage, a kicker roller and a dofiing cylinder cooperating with said main saw cylinder, a second I saw cylinder positioned to receive direct from said dofiing cylinder the product removed from the main saw cylinder and located at a distance from the opposite side of the latter to provide a space between the two cylinders for the free passage between them of mixed cotton, hulls and trash falling past said second cylinder, and a deflecting board for directing such mixed cotton, hulls and trash past the main saw cylinder, and terminating in a hull board associated with said reclaiming saw cylinder, and the lower end of which defines the size of an opening past said reclaiming saw cylinder for the escape of hulls and trash.

8. In a cotton feeding, separating and cleaning machine, in combination with a main saw cylinder and means for feedin the raw product thereto at one side thereof, a hull board associated with the saw cylinder at such side, a reclaiming saw cylinder located below the opening past the saw cylinder provided by said hull board and in working proximity to said saw cylinder, hull rejecting and cotton removing means cooperating with the main saw cylinder, a second saw cylinder positioned to receive the product removed from the main saw cylinder and located at a distance from the opposite side of the latter to provide a space between the two saw cylinders for the free discharge of mixed cotton, hulls and trash past said second saw cylinder, a deflecting board for directing such discharged product past the main saw cylinder and having a portion positioned in close proximity to the surface of the main saw cylinder, and a hull board inclined downwardly from said latter portion of the deflecting board and the lower end of which defines the size of an opening past the reclaiming saw cylinder for the escape of hulls and trash.

9. In a cotton feeding, separating and cleaning machine, two separating units, each of which includes a saw cylinder having hull rejecting and cotton removing means coop.- erating therewith, the saw cylinder of the second unit being positioned to receive the cotton removed from the saw cylinder of the first unit, and each unit providing for the discharge of mixed cotton, hulls and trash past its saw cylinder, and means common to the discharge of both units and operating to remove cotton from the discharged product thereof and return same to the saw cylinder of the first unit.

10. In a cotton feeding, separating and cleaning machine, two separating units,each of which includes a saw cylinder having hull rejecting and cotton removingmeans cooperating therewith, the saw cylinder of the second unit being positioned to receive the cotton removed from the saw cylinder of the first unit, and each unit providing for the discharge of mixed cotton, hulls and my hand.

ORVILLE MITCHELL. 

